What Makes Us unique

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0161 427 4293

Care in the Countryside

Mellor Nook is one of a very few care homes to be located in the green
belt. We take every opportunity to embrace and celabrate our rural situation

Family Run Bussiness

It is very unusual nowadays for a care home to be run by the same family
for over 30 years. More inportantly in our opinion is that we live here
on the premises. This is our home too

What people say

CQC inspector

" Mellor Nook is unique"

Doctors

"what a fantastic place to spend your retirment"

Relatives

"the staff are willing to go the extra mile"

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Comment on our Blog

Our Staff

The quality of life which residents experience depends to a great extent
on the calibre of the staff caring for them. Our trained and experienced
staff team, which is well managed and adequately paid, provides high quality
care in a responsive and understanding atmosphere. People living at Mellor
Nook are often vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. Staff carry
out personal and potentially embarrassing intimate services for residents
and need special qualities to do this sensitively and tactfully. Such
qualities include personal warmth, patience and responsiveness to and
respect for the individual. They can provide competent and tactful care
whilst supporting residents in maintaining and extending skills and self-care
abilities.

The staff team

At Mellor Nook staff see themselves as a team which is consistent in
its shared aims, with members fulfilling complementary roles. this ensures
residents receive a satisfactory standard of care, The balance of staff
can therefore match the residents' needs.

In addition, the role to be played by peripatetic staff such as occupational
therapists and chiropodists is considered carefully.

Current law requires that Mellor Nook runs with an adequate number of
staff who have the right balance of skills and experience to meet the
needs of residents. Each year Mellor Nook draws up a staffing schedule
to show how the staff team meets the residents' requirements. The schedule
is subject to inspection and approval by the inspection and registration
authority Mellor Nook provides sufficient evidence that the right level
of staffing with appropriate competence and training is provided. Mellor
Nook never leaves the home in the control of a person with insufficient
training and experience. The staffing establishment and rota system therefore
are arranged so that there are enough senior staff and they are suitably
deployed to give the cover required to meet the home's stated aims.

Recruitment

The recruitment of good staff is critical to the running of Mellor Nook
and is undertaken carefully. Staff at all levels demonstrate the right
degree of knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes relevant to their
jobs. Managerial and supervisory staff have qualifications as appropriate.

The following stages are involved:

· advertisements are clear about the sort of person wanted and the work
they will do;

· comprehensive information is be available for potential applicants;

· a person specification and job description is drawn up;

· application forms are completed by all people applying for jobs

· the interviewing process is conducted fairly by senior staff with the
appropriate skills. It includes candidates talking to residents and existing
staff; references are taken up from two people, one at least from a previous
employer or from someone who, for example, has supervised the applicant
in a volunteer capacity (rather than a character reference from a friend);

· references are written and sent directly by the referee, and where
necessary followed up with a telephone call to check statements;

· employment histories are checked for any gaps or evidence of misconduct;

· prospective employees must disclose all previous criminal convictions
including those which are 'otherwise spent'. The Rehabilitation and Offenders
Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 requires residential and nursing home
care staff to disclose previous convictions.

· the authenticity of qualifications are checked; a health declaration
is requested before appointment;

· proper records of the recruitment process are kept.

Equal opportunities

It is sometimes difficult to balance equal opportunities procedures with
the needs and rights of residents. The recruitment procedures and the
composition of the staff team does as far as possible match the mix of
cultural and language backgrounds of residents and local area.

Job descriptions

Job descriptions describe the roles and tasks which staff have to undertake.
They outline the management structure and lines of accountability and
the support and supervision available. They also set out the overall purpose
of the job, linking the importance of the tasks described to the aims
of the home as a whole.

Terms and conditions of employment

It is mandatory for certain terms and conditions of employment to be
clearly stated in writing and given to each employee as part of the contract
of employment. This is done by means of the SMT (Statement of Main Terms
and conditions) which makes reference to the staff hand book which is
available to all staff on duty At Mellor Nook Peninsula Business Services
provide these:

· remuneration;

· hours of duty;

· length of probationary period;

· grievance and disciplinary procedures;

· period of notice or dismissal;

· holiday entitlement;

· sickness payments;

· pension arrangements;

· maternity and paternity benefits;

· redundancy;

· commitment to an equal opportunities policy;

· training opportunities.

Staff handbook

A detailed handbook is readily available for each member of staff, setting
out terms and conditions of employment as above and also covering procedures
to be observed during working hours. It is an integral part of the contract
of employment. It includes:

· terms and conditions of employment;

· health and safety at work policies;

· procedures in specific circumstances, for example fire and other emergencies;

· policies and procedures relating to sickness and absences;

· instructions on maintaining confidentiality;

· instructions on receiving gifts or gratuities and not being involved
in the drawing up of wills.

Induction

New members of staff are given a job induction during which they are
introduced to residents and other members of staff and the nature of their
job described. The aims and objectives of the home and its routines and
procedures (especially fire and safety) are set out for them, along with
the standards of care which all members of staff are expected to achieve.
This induction is inline with the standards laid down by "Skills
for Care" and is completed by all care staff within six weeks of
their start date.

Probationary period

At Mellor Nook all staff to undergo a formal probationary period of three
months to ensure that they are suitable for the job and the home. They
are supported during this time with a review undertaken at the end of
the period. In some cases this probationary period can be extended. Care
is taken to ensure that new staff are not placed on duty together and
unsupported. At Mellor Nook we place a new member of staff alongside a
more experienced person who can act as mentor.

Working conditions

Hours of duty

Duty rotas are based on a working week of 26 hours. Staff are not expected
to work additional hours regularly or to work more than five days continuously
without taking a break. Rotas therefore pay attention to both shift patterns
and time off duty. Care is taken to ensure that enough time and attention
is given to handover procedures between shifts so that staff coming on
duty are fully informed about any developments or changes in residents'
circumstances. Detailed records of all information handed over are kept.

Dress

Clothing worn by staff is suitable for the tasks that they have to carry
out. There are arguments for and against uniforms. They tend to give an
institutional feel to an establishment but the majority of our residents
express a preference for staff to wear them so we consider them appropriate.
We are careful not create a misleading impression that staff are nurses
(they are not) or that staff are qualified (if they are not).

Mellor Nook 's has a corporate colour and style of clothing. Name badges
we find helpful, particularly if residents find it difficult to remember
names. They are also helpful for visitors.. Jewellery such as brooches,
chains and rings are either covered or not worn if it might scratch or
harm residents.

Attention is always given to matters of infection control, either from
resident to resident, resident to staff or staff to resident, and so practical
protective clothing is available for staff when needed.

Staff induction, manuals of guidance, inhouse training, staff meetings
and individual supervision were considered carefully and laid out in detail.
Mellor Nook takes on board that in the event of a crisis or an enquiry,
management may have to demonstrate that the support structures which we
had in place were sufficient. Mellor Nook staff are included in discussions
about the running of the home.

Staff meetings

Staff meetings take place regularly and involve all staff.

Staff supervision

There is one-to-one supervision sessions for all staff on a regular basis
although they may be required more frequently for care staff than other
staff categories. The sessions enable managers to ensure that staff are
performing satisfactorily and provide opportunities for constructive criticism
and understanding support. Personal and career development is discussed.

Stress

Working at Mellor Nook can be stressful. Staff learn to cope with death,
serious illness and the difficult behaviour of some residents. For the
home to be able to deal with such things as high levels of incontinence
and aggressive and violent behaviour, we have policies and procedures
in place which ensure enough support and training opportunities for staff
and adequate staffing levels.

Establishing staffing levels

Mellor Nook has considered the residents' needs in relation to all types
of staff in drawing up our staffing arrangements. We have set out the
number of staff, their duties, salaries and the types of qualifications,
experience and training which is expected for each post. We tend to employ
part-time care assistants, which allows for more flexible deployment while
our full-time posts tend to improve consistency and continuity of care
At Mellor Nook staff carryout a wide variety of responsibilities, including
resident care, cleaning, cooking and so on. In all cases, however, the
duties required of staff are made clear at the time of appointment and
any changes of duty or role, are recorded in writing.

Mellor Nook: managerial and care staff

Minimum cover

Mellor Nook's management and care staffing arrangements, consider two
main factors. The first is the provision of minimum cover. There is a
'responsible person' designated on duty at all times during the twenty-four
hour day. This means that there is someone present who can make decisions
in an emergency, who is familiar with the home's procedures and practices
and has the necessary skills and training to manage the service provided.

Mellor Nook's cover is designed to cope with the general running of the
home. But there are peaks and troughs in the residents' demand for staff
support and help. Peaks include getting up, mealtimes, activities and
going to bed; troughs include times when residents are out of the building
and rest periods. Mellor Nook, therefore doesn’t only provide minimum
cover but also deploys staff to offer additional support at peak periods.
The employment of part-time staff enables such deployment to be flexible
without causing problems such as split shifts for other staff.

Total staff required

The second main factor in the calculation of day care staffing is the
degree of need presented by the residents and the consequent amount of
staff time required. Total requirements are arrived at by estimating the
number of care hours required according to residents' needs per week and
then totalled per resident per annum, and then totalled for Mellor Nook
as a whole. Thus the number of staff needed is worked out once allowance
is made for holidays, illness and other absences. This approach gives
the total staffing required for all managerial and care staff on day duties,
inclusive of the minimum cover

Night staffing

At Mellor Nook night staffing requirements depend upon the mobility and
lucidity of residents on the one hand, and the type of handling problems
anticipated on the other. Where residents require moving, for example,
two members of staff are needed Mr & Mrs Critchlow are on call every
night.

Ancillary staff

Ancillary staffing includes staff not primarily engaged to undertake
managerial or care roles, but the value of their contact with residents
or their therapeutic role is not underestimated. While only basic guidelines
are offered for the numbers of such staff, Mellor Nook considers the tasks
listed below.

Cooking

At Mellor Nook, care staff do the teatime cooking to help create a homely
atmosphere, This approach was determined by the overall aim of the home,
and appropriate training made available to ensure that residents obtain
a varied, balanced diet that also reflects their individual wishes.

Gardening and maintenance

This work is undertaken by outside contractors. In some circumstances,
since good maintenance is important for the comfort of residents, especially
when they are dependent on the efficient functioning of heating systems,
hot water supplies, other household systems and aids with which the home
is equipped.

Training and staff development

Mellor Nook enables and encourage staff to undertake training. As part
of staff appraisal and supervision, an individual training and development
plan has been drawn up for all staff. Staff are encouraged to undertake
training courses to acquire skills and, where appropriate, qualifications.
The benefits to be derived from having a trained staff are many:

· residents receive better care;

· staff feel more confident that they are doing the work as it should
be done and that they can tackle problems that arise;

· staff feel valued by management when the training programme has the
management's backing;

· the ethos of the home is improved;

· a pool of staff is available for promotion and career progression.

Mellor Nook provides training in-house as well as arranging for staff
to spend time away on courses. In-house training of this kind is seen
as an integral part of the running of Mellor Nook and emphasis is given
to the timing and arrangement of staffing rotas to ensure relief cover
is provided to enable staff to receive training. Night staff are included
in all training opportunities. Training costs money and this is incorporated
into the fees charged to residents. There are a range of courses and types
of training available at Mellor Nook:

· in-house training provided by colleagues who themselves are skilled;

· peer group training;

· distance learning (for example via the Open University, the Royal Institute
of Public Health and Hygiene);

Mellor Nook also offers National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) Five
levels of qualifications are set out within the NVQ framework. At level
2 (which is the level most often worked towards by Mellor Nook staff),
competence is expected in a variety of work activities, some complex and
non-routine, along with the ability to work both alone and in collaboration
with others in different situations.

The NVQ system of training covers staff at all levels, including managerial
training, Mellor Nook will be linking career progression to the achievement
of specific NVQ levels. For example, Deputies require a level 3/4 in care
and work towards a management qualification, The home manager a level
4 in management in social care

Mellor Nook is committed to the training for all staff, particularly
those who have direct contact with residents, training cannot be overemphasised.
In particular, staff (both care staff and ancillary staff) benefit from
training in guarding against abuse, promoting continence, and caring for
those who are dying. In the case of residents who may show signs of developing
dementia, it is important that those who have most contact with them understand
their symptoms and know how best to handle those symptoms. This has a
bearing on many aspects of residents' daily lives getting dressed, activities,
mealtimes, going out, going to bed. We also provide training on health
and safety issues, particularly, for example, in relation to food safety,
manual handling and the use of hoists.